Extrusion behaviour of grits from flint and sweet corn

Studies were conducted to investigate the effect of feed moisture, extrusion temperature and screw speed on the extrusion behaviour and product characteristics of flint and sweet corn grits. The extruder die pressure and extrudate properties, such as expansion and water solubility index (WSI), were analyzed. Second order polynomials were computed to describe the extruder response and product properties of grits from both corn types as a function of feed moisture, extrusion temperature and screw speed. Among feed moisture, extrusion temperature and screw speed, feed moisture showed the most pronounced effect on die pressure, expansion and WSI. Die pressure of the extruder was significantly greater for sweet corn than flint corn grits. The grits from both the corn types differ significantly with respect to extrusion behaviour and product characteristics under similar extrusion conditions. The particle size distribution revealed that flint corn grits had more fine and opaque particles and resulted in extrudates with lower WSI and expansion than those from sweet corn grits which had fewer fine particles.